Improvement in block-fitting machines



E. H. WOODSUM.

Block-Fitting Machines.

No, 144,427. Patgnted 'Nov.11,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ELIAS H. WOODSUM, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To ERANcIS H.WHITMAN, OF HARRISON, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLOCK-FITTING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,427, dated November11, 1873; application filed September 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELms H. WoonSUM, of South Boston, in theCommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulBlock-Fitting Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and

exact description thereof that will enable oth ers skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

Letters Patent of the United States, No. 91,893, have already beengranted for a railway-sleeper, in which the improvement consists in theinsertion of a block of hard wood into the softer wood of the sleeper. Amachine for cutting the sleeper for the reception of the blocks has alsobeen patentedLetters Patent No. 114,079. It is the object of thisinvention to provide a machine for Simultathe main shaft B. Pivoted uponthis shaft is the sawframe G, which is provided at the bottom with thetreadle D. At the top, and across this frame C, is the horizontal shaftE E, which is belted to the main shaft B. This Shaft contains the twosaws F F, the distance between which is to be regulated by the length ofthe block to be out. At the back of the frame is the vertical shaft H,which is rotated by a cross-belt from the main shaft. (See Fig. 2.) Bymeans of belts from this shaft are rotated the vertical shafts I and K.These two Shafts are secured to the frame L L, which admits of avertical motion upon the rods or slides N N. (See Fig. 1.) The relativeposition of these shafts to each other, and to the saws F F, is fixed bythe position of the boltholes in the rails. Into the upper ends of theshafts I and K are inserted bits of the proper length and diameter. Themovable frame is connected with the treadle of the saw-frame by means ofthe compound lever O P It. At

the right of the frame, and at the top, is placed the roller S, andbetween thesaws, and at the same or about the same level, the platformor table T, at the left of which is the stop V. The platform, also, maybe provided with the lever W, under which is placed a spring which shallkeep it in an elevated position when not in use.

The operation of this machine maybe readily seen. The plank, already cutto the requisite width, is fed in over the roller upon the platform andagainst the stop V, where it is held in place by means of the lever W.The foot of the operator is then placed upon the treadle I), by means ofwhich the saw-frame is thrown forward and the saws brought in contactwith the wood, while, by thesame motion, the vertical. frame is elevatedby the levers O P R,

and the bits brought in contact with the under side of the plank.Continued pressure upon the treadle carries the saws and bits throughthe plank.

Great care is necessary in order to properly adjust the movable frame Lrelatively to the saws, and the position of the bit-shafts relatively toboth, in order that the blocks may conform to the requirements of thegage of the road. The position of the blocks in the sleepers is fixed bythe cuts made in them by the machine described'in Letters Patent No.

114,07 9, and the position of the rail upon the I blocks is fixed, inturn, by the position of the bolt-holes in the block. These should beequi- Witnesses:

T. T. SNOW, G. L. BAILEY.

